With two new regimes and a Lions team deep into a rebuild, it was always going to be interesting to see how the NFC North played out in the draft, and that’s before even mentioning the Packers and their search for new wide receivers. It is fair to say the results were a mixed big. Here are my 2022 NFL Draft grades for all four teams.
Chicago Bears
2.39 – CB Kyler Gordon, Washington
2.48 – S Jaquan Brisker, Penn State
3.71 – WR Velus Jones, Tennessee
5.168 – OT Braxton Jones, Southern Utah
5.174 – EDGE Dominique Robinson, Miami (OH)
6.186 – OT Zachary Thomas, San Diego State
6.203 – RB Trestan Ebner, Baylor
6.207 – IOL Doug Kramer, Illinois
7.226 – OT Ja’Tyre Carter, Southern
7.254 – S Elijah Hicks, California
7.255 – P Trenton Gill, NC State
With a new GM and head coach in place for the draft, it was always going to be interesting to see how the Bears looked to address their roster. With no first round pick that would always be a tough ask, but it is safe to say they confounded expectation on day two. Despite some glaring needs on offense, they spent their two second rounders on their secondary. Both Gordon and Brisker are good players who should improve this defense, but is that really what this roster needs most?
Perhaps the most questionable pick of their class came next, with 25 year old return specialist Velus Jones coming off the board at No. 71. Jones was widely regarded as being a depth piece at best in the NFL, with his value coming on special teams. The fact the Bears took him ahead of the likes of Jalen Tolbert and Danny Gray is sure to have raised a number of eyebrows. With their other picks coming outside the top 150, it is difficult to get excited about the rest of their class. That said, Dominique Robinson in the fifth is well worth keeping an eye on. The former wide receiver now playing defensive end has great traits and flashed his potential in college. He could develop into an impact starter at the next level.
Grade: C-
Detroit Lions
1.2 – EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
1.12 – WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
2.46 – EDGE Josh Paschal, Kentucky
3.97 – S Kerby Joseph, Illinois
5.177 – TE James Mitchell, Virginia Tech
6.188 – LB Malcolm Rodriguez, Oklahoma State
6.217 – LB James Houston, Jackson State
7.237 – CB Chase Lucas, Arizona State
The draft really could not have started better for the Lions, who were able to land Aidan Hutchinson after the Jaguars elected to take Travon Walker No. 1 overall. Hutchinson feels like the perfect fit for Dan Campbell’s team and pairs with Romeo Okwara to give them a hugely talented edge duo. The Jameson Williams pick was less impressive. Whilst he is a good prospect who gives this offense something different, they parted with three premium draft picks to get him. That is a lot to give up for one wide receiver when there are a number of other big holes on the roster that need to be addressed.
The Lions then had six more picks, with two on day two and four on the final day of the draft. The haul ended up being pretty good. Josh Paschal and Kerby Joseph are both very talented prospects who give this defense some much needed rotational quality. Virginia Tech tight end James Mitchell could also be a solid contributor behind T.J. Hockenson, particularly if the Lions are looking to run more two tight end sets in 2022. All in all this felt like a pretty good draft class.
Grade: A-
Green Bay Packers
1.22 – LB Quay Walker, Georgia
1.28 – IDL Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
2.34 – WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State
3.92 – OT Sean Rhyan, UCLA
4.132 – WR Romeo Doubs, Nevada
4.140 – OT Zach Tom, Wake Forest
5.179 – EDGE Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina
7.228 – LB, Tariq Carpenter, Georgia Tech
7.234 – IDL Jonathan Ford, Miami
7.249 – OT Rasheed Walker, Penn State
7.258 – WR Samori Toure, Nebraska
Going into the draft there was an expectation from many that the Packers needed to take a wide receiver in the first round. In the end the run on the position meant that this wasn’t really an option without making a substantial reach. With that in mind they did well to add two exciting defensive pieces. Quay Walker might have been a little rich at No. 22 overall, but he is a true three-down linebacker who can be an immediate starter alongside De’Vondre Campbell. Devonte Wyatt will also add some much-needed interior pass rushing ability along the interior.
The rest of the draft might have been the best part for the Packers. They finally landed their wide receiver in the second round with Christian Watson. Whilst the trade up was a bit of an overpay, they got the player they wanted and so desperately needed. They then added a plus starter along the offensive line with Rhyan and some exciting developmental options including Doubs, Tom, and Enagbare. Fairly or unfairly this class will be judged by the Packers’ approach to addressing their need at wide receiver, but you can’t fault the quality of players they acquired this weekend.
Grade: A-
Minnesota Vikings
1.32 – S Lewis Cine, Georgia
2.42 – CB Andrew Booth, Clemson
2.59 – IOL Ed Ingram, LSU
3.66 – LB Brian Asamoah, Oklahoma
4.118 – CB Akayleb Evans, Missouri
5.165 – EDGE Esezi Otomewo, Minnesota
5.169 – RB Ty Chandler, North Carolina
6.184 – OT Vederian Lowe, Illinois
6.191 – WR Jalen Nailor, Michigan State
7.227 – TE Nick Muse, South Carolina
This felt like a very strange draft for the Vikings’ new front office. Their decision to trade all the way down to 32 raised some eyebrows and did cause them to miss out on some potentially elite talent at the top of the class. That said, their first two picks couldn’t have gone much better considering the circumstances. Cine and Booth are supremely talented defenders who will both start from the outset and immediately improve this secondary.
The rest of their class was less impressive. Ingram in the second round felt like a noticeable reach, particularly when you consider the other interior talent available at that spot. The same can be said for Brian Asamoah – whilst he is a good prospect who gives them some nice ability in coverage, it is difficult to see how he went ahead of some of the linebackers on the board. Both were substantial reaches according to the Consensus Board too. The one late round pick that I did like was Ty Chandler. He’s admittedly an older prospect, but he offers great speed and has a strong record of production to develop into their RB2 behind Dalvin Cook.
Grade: C+
